A ballad song about unrequited love
There are many different styles of unrequited love songs, but I’ve put together a selection of “ballad-style unrequited love songs” that I especially recommend to those who love gentle, heartfelt romance tracks.
Some are about love that will never come true, and others are lingering-love songs about still having feelings after a breakup.
Every song hits you right in the heart, so please give them a listen.
Ballad-style unrequited love songs are also perfect for when you just want to cry.
I hope you find one song on this list that stays close to your feelings.
Unrequited love ballad songs (1–10)
I don’t like it.NEW!yangusukinii
This is a heart-wrenching ballad that portrays the complex emotions after a heartbreak.
The protagonist’s poignant bravado is conveyed through Kayu’s emotionally rich vocals, and many listeners will likely find their hearts shaken each time they hear it.
Released in December 2022 as Young Skinny’s final indie single, it was later included on the album “I Thought Anything Would Be Forgiven If I Turned It Into a Song.” It’s also known as an insert song for ABEMA’s dating show “Koisuru ♥ Shuumatsu Homestay 2023 Spring ~Sweet Orange Memory~.” The band’s first-ever use of strings matches the chilly winter atmosphere and really seeps into the soul.
It’s a song that gently stays by your side on those nights when you try to forget but just can’t.
Coffee SongHOWL BE QUIET
A love song that overlays the ache of unrequited feelings onto an everyday moment.
Released digitally in 2021 by the piano rock band HOWL BE QUIET and later included on their final album, HOWL BE QUIET, this track is also known for having been created through communication with fans during livestreamed performances.
Told from a female perspective, its portrayal of a love that goes unrewarded is deeply moving.
With lyrics that revive memories along with the aroma of coffee, it’s perfect for nights spent thinking of someone.
A song for everyone who carries feelings that can’t reach their destination.
Unrequited love for lifeGarakuta
This is a song by Garakuta, a four-piece band based in Nagoya, that portrays unrequited feelings of love in a down-to-earth, relatable way.
If confessing would risk ruining what we have now, I’d rather keep my feelings to myself.
Many listeners will likely feel their hearts tighten at the blend of bravado and honest emotion in the lyrics.
Featured as the first track on their EP released in March 2024, “May it be my song that fills the gaps in your heart,” this piece is perfect for anyone stuck in a love they can’t quite step forward into, despite how strongly they feel.
tameraiMisaka Saki
A song by Saki Misaka that captures the frustration of being unable to put a secret love into words and the true-to-life emotions swaying at the turn of the seasons.
Released digitally in February 2024, this track blends a neo-retro pop sound with a trendy vibe and vocals that delicately express inner feelings, making it wonderfully soothing.
Even while carrying unspoken emotions, it’s a warm love song that helps you look a little bit forward toward spring.
Be sure to listen closely.
Unrequited Love in the Music RoomKeyakizaka46
It’s a Keyakizaka46 song that overlays the feeling of first love onto the sound of a piano echoing through a quiet after-school hallway.
It’s a unit track by Rika Ozeki, Minami Koike, and Neru Nagahama, included on TYPE-D of the single “Ambivalent,” released in August 2018.
The refined scene of someone not opening the music room door where their crush is, instead listening intently to the notes leaking out, tightens the listener’s chest.
If you’re someone who wants to cherish your current relationship without breaking it… this song will surely stay close to your delicate feelings.
It got found out that I like you.Kasamura Tōta
Released by Tota Kasamura in July 2020, this song is a poignant ballad about a protagonist who, once their feelings are discovered, chooses to “go far away.” Without using direct words of love, it delicately portrays a self-sacrificing affection—one that even fears leaving a trace of oneself in the other person’s memory.
The structure is striking too, with a calm piano-centered arrangement that swells emotionally toward the end.
It’s a track I especially recommend to anyone who has ever stepped back for the sake of someone they cared about.
NAOHY
It’s a ballad that pierces the chest with the pain of unrequited love.
The song is included on HY’s 2006 album “Confidence,” by the Okinawa-born mix-genre band, and tells a story created by vocalist Izumi Nakasone based on a close friend’s real experience.
The piece vividly portrays the inner conflict of a woman who knows the person she likes has feelings for someone else and won’t return her affection, yet she just can’t give up.
The clear, airy vocals riding over the piano melody further highlight the sorrow of a love that won’t reach its destination.
It’s a must-listen for anyone who finds themselves empathizing with the urge to cling on, even as they sense the person they love slowly changing.